转录调控因子WRKY超级家族:起源、结构和功能

Transcription Factor WRKY Superfamily:Origin, Structure and Function

WRKY蛋白质是一个植物特有的超级转录调控因子家族,在拟南芥和水稻基因组中分别拥有至少74个和97个成员。最古老的WRKY转录调控因子拥有2个高度保守的WRKY结构域,可能起源于15～20亿年前的真核生物。虽然所有WRKY蛋白质主要通过特异地结合靶基因启动子区域的W盒序列而调控其表达,但各家族成员基因的生物学功能存在着各自的特异性。本文详细总结了WRKY蛋白质在调控植物发育和逆境诱导反应的信号转导途径建立等方面的分子生物学功能。

The transcription factor WRKY protein superfamily so far is found exclusively in plants. There exist at least 74 and 97 members in Arabidopsis and rice, respectively. The most archaic WRKY transcription factors, which may originate some 1.5-2 billion years ago in cukaryotes, contain two highly conserved WRKY domains. Although all WRKY proteins regulate mainly the expression of target genes by specifically hinding to the （T） TGACC （A/T） （W box） sequences of their promoter, the biological function of each member is specific. In this review, we summarize in detail the molecular biological function of WRKY proteins in regulating specific signaling pathways during development or in response to stress factors.